A Few Tricks To Save Gas

1. The evening or morning is the time to buy your gasoline.

Gas becomes denser when the temperature is colder. Gas pumps measure the volume of the gas that you pump and do not measure the density. You are getting more gas per gallon when the gas is denser. A congressional committee has estimated that US consumers will pay 2.1 billion dollars more for gas this summer because of this density difference.

In the morning's cooler air, or in the evening's cooler air, you'll be getting more fuel and better gas price economy. There can also be an added benefit. Filling your tank in the evening can help you avoid wasting fuel idling while waiting for a gas pump to open up during peak hours.

2. Don't let your gas tank get empty, fill up sooner.

Try not to drive your car until the gas gauge is on or close to empty. All the loose dirt that may have built up in your gas tank over time will be sucked into the engine. This is not good for the engine and will cause a marked drop in the MPG of your car.

In addition to the lowered MPG if you are at empty you may have to fill your tank at the first station you come across and you may be forced to pay a high price rather than wait till you find a station with a lower price.

Try to keep your gas level above the quarter tank mark if possible. Plan to buy gasoline when your tank is between one quarter and one half full.

3. Turn the nozzle

Try turning the nozzle of the hose a full 180 degrees when you have finished filling up your gas tank . This will enable the gas in the nozzle to enter your tank. In some cases it could be as much as an entire half cup. This bonus, if left alone will provide the next customer with a bonus.

Once you get into the habit of turning the hose you'll find yourself doing it without thinking. That extra half cup that you get each time that you fill your gas tank can add up to a lot of extra gas at the end of the year that you would have otherwise left for the next motorist.

If you fill up once a week and you can squeeze an extra half cup out of the hose each time, that would be 52 half cups per year. That would equate to 1.625 gallons.

If you are a two car family that fills up each car once a week you would reap the benefit of over 3 gallons of "free" gas a year. Three free gallons of gas just by flicking your wrist.

These are just a few of many things you can do to maximize your fuel economy and gas purchases. Just thinking about gas and the things you can do will help you make a habit out of saving gas.